Interactions: Could someone please point me to a... - Thyroid UK

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Squeezie profile image
18 Replies

Could someone please point me to a thread which explains which vitamins need to be taken away from thyroid meds and/or food. I’m getting confused 😐

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Squeezie profile image
Squeezie
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18 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

Everything needs to be taken away from thyroid 'meds'.

Food, and all drinks apart from water, one hour after or two hours before.

Iron, calcium, vit D, magnesium and oestrogen four hours away.

All other supplements and medication two hours away.

:)

Squeezie profile image
Squeezie in reply to greygoose

Hehe I meant thyroid hormones. Thanks GG.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Squeezie

You're welcome. :)

HowCome profile image
HowCome in reply to greygoose

Thanks greygoose And for question, Squeezie!

2 hours before, or 1 hour after food.....

(eek!! I don’t think i go 3 hours w/o eating!!🤣

HowCome profile image
HowCome in reply to HowCome

Think i need to search back through the threads, and understand this better.... (reasons/mechanisms for reasons, help me with motivation and focus, which are a problem!!)

HowCome profile image
HowCome in reply to HowCome

Based on my (non-medical, from reading) understanding of stomach mechanics... I’ve been working on 2 hours after and 30-60mins before, especially if i take my levothyroxine on the morning... but i do try to take it before bed... assuming I’ve not been pottering in and out of the larder, in the evening!

Would love to go back to biology school!

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to HowCome

It's not biology, it's chemistry. Thyroid hormones bind with certain nutrients/elements, like iron and calcium. Therefore, to assure maximum absorption, you need to give the hormone time to leave the stomach before putting anything else into it. That's all.

HowCome profile image
HowCome in reply to greygoose

Thanks, good point!

But i would also like to understand the biology of the stomach and intestines. (I have intermittent low B12.... prob related to varying absorption... Also gastric parietal antibodies.... all good fun, and just a tiny bit over my head, at the mo...)

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to HowCome

You probably have low stomach acid, most hypos do. That makes digesting food and absorbing nutrients difficult. The B12 gets low, and that in itself lowers stomach acid even further. Do you get enough salt? Low-salt diets can also lower stomach acid. Plus it gets lower as we age. So, we do have to be careful about that.

Squeezie profile image
Squeezie in reply to HowCome

😆

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to HowCome

HowCome

(eek!! I don’t think i go 3 hours w/o eating!!)

You don't have to go 3 hours without eating.

Take thyroid meds one hour before food

or

Take thyroid meds two hours after food.

Water only one hour either side of taking thyroid meds.

Other medication and supplements - 2 hours away from thyroid meds

except

Iron, calcium, Vit D, magnesium, oestrogen - 4 hours away from thyroid meds

Do you regularly need the bathroom in the early hours of the morning? If so put your thyroid meds on your bedside cabinet with a glass of water at bedtime and take them when you wake for the bathroom - you'll have an empty stomach and no coffee, tea, etc, to worry about.

HowCome profile image
HowCome in reply to SeasideSusie

Thankyou!

Yes, i do that night time thing, if i’ve bern in the larder late.... but if i do sleep through, i struggle with the hour until i can drink a cup of tea!🤣

Think it is a definite health-benefit to have an extra reason to fast, after “tea”/evening meal... rest the digestive system etc... See what i mean about building motivation!

BadHare profile image
BadHare in reply to HowCome

Try eating low GI (glycaemic index) foods that fill you up longer. Good fats lower the GI of anything we eat.

HowCome profile image
HowCome in reply to BadHare

Good advice, thanks.

As would be good quality protein with each meal or snack, to keep me going for longer, between neals.

But most if all, i need to Try going to bed earlier, so i don’t need to keep stoking the fire, to keep awake during the day!

Pixipot profile image
Pixipot

Dont eat Kale or Brussels sprouts dont take St John's Wort whilst on thyroid meds. I googled this info then told my doctor he agreed about St Johns wort but said its ok to eat anything as long as you don't eat or drink at same time as the pill.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Pixipot

Pixipot

Dont eat Kale or Brussels sprouts

Why not?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Levothyroxine should always be taken empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more effective and more convenient taken at bedtime

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?

If you take levothyroxine at bedtime, take most vitamin supplements after breakfast...except magnesium....Take magnesium early evening four hours before levothyroxine

HowCome profile image
HowCome in reply to SlowDragon

“Levothyroxine should always be taken empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after”

Thanks SeasideSusie, tgat’s what i had in my mind....

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